Although adults tend to view video games as isolating and antisocial, other studies found that most young respondents described the games as fun, exciting, something to counter boredom, and something to do with friends.
For many youths, violent content is not the main draw. Boys in particular are motivated to play video games in order to compete and win. Seen in this context, use of violent video games may be similar to the type of rough-housing play that boys engage in as part of normal development.
Video games offer one more outlet for the competition for status or to establish a pecking order. Parents can protect their children from potential harm from video games by following a few commonsense strategies — particularly if they are concerned that their children might be vulnerable to the effects of violent content. These simple precautions may help:. Place video consoles and computers in common areas of the home, rather than in children's bedrooms.
Set limits on the amount of time youths can play these games. The AAP recommends two hours or less of total screen time per day, including television, computers, and video games. Encourage participation in sports or school activities in which youths can interact with peers in person rather than online. Video games share much in common with other pursuits that are enjoyable and rewarding, but may become hazardous in certain contexts. Parents can best protect their children by remaining engaged with them and providing limits and guidance as necessary.
American Academy of Pediatrics. Anderson CA, et al. Ferguson CJ. Ito M, et al. MacArthur Foundation, Lenhart A, et al. Markey PM, et al.
Olson CK. Olson CK, et al. As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles. No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.
Thanks for visiting. Don't miss your FREE gift. Sign up to get tips for living a healthy lifestyle, with ways to fight inflammation and improve cognitive health , plus the latest advances in preventative medicine, diet and exercise , pain relief, blood pressure and cholesterol management, and more. Get helpful tips and guidance for everything from fighting inflammation to finding the best diets for weight loss Stay on top of latest health news from Harvard Medical School.
Recent Blog Articles. If you have knee pain, telehealth may help. How to address opposition in young children. In a statement, the American Academy of Pediatrics AAP acknowledged that it is nearly impossible to prevent children from witnessing any type of media violence. And they report that it's imperative for parents to be proactive about how media violence impacts children. Their statement, in part states, "research shows that without guidance or controls it has the power to make children more aggressive, violent and fearful.
The AAP recommends that parents prevent children under 6 from witnessing any type of media violence because they're not able to separate reality from fantasy. They also recommend parents of older children closely monitor all media violence on TV, online, and in video games. If your child exhibits aggressive behavior , reducing his exposure to violent material could help. Watching acts of violence may desensitize your child to violent behavior.
Keep in mind that appropriate media use for children isn't just about the quantity of screen time they get, it's also about the quality of the media they are consuming.
Here are a few tips for setting healthy limits on video games:. Get expert tips to help your kids stay healthy and happy. The effect of playing violent video games on adolescents: Should parents be quaking in their boots? Markey, P. Vulnerability to violent video games: A review and integration of personality research. Review of General Psychology. Preference for violent electronic games and aggressive behavior among children: The beginning of the downward spiral?
Media Psychology. American Psychological Association. APA review confirms link between playing violent video games and aggression.
American Academy of Pediatrics. Virtual violence impacts children on multiple levels. July 18, Actively scan device characteristics for identification. Why is it OK to let my kid see some types of movie violence but not others? Big Kids Should I be concerned?
Tweens Have movies become more violent over the years? At what age can my teen watch horror movies? My teen's music has really violent lyrics. Should I worry about the messages he's hearing?
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print. Personalize your media recommendations. How old is your kid? Have an account?
0コメント